# Joint Reserve Force: ready, responsive, and flexible, worldwide

/ Published June 27, 2023
FORT BELVOIR, Va., 
The Defense Logistics Agency is the source behind the force, providing logistics support to the U.S. military and other federal agencies. But let’s look behind the curtain to see who is behind that source.The answer is the DLA Joint Reserve Force (JRF), a team of almost 700 reservists from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps who work together to support the DLA mission worldwide. The JRF is globally responsive and trains to be deployment-ready for contingency operations and mission support.One of the ways JRF members stay prepared is by participating in exercises and showcasing joint logistics capabilities for DLA. So far, in 2023, the JRF has been involved in several exercises and activities around the world.**Ulchi Freedom Shield:** This exercise simulates a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula and maintains the readiness of the U.S.-Korea alliance. DLA provides essential supplies and services to both forces, such as medical materiel, fuel, food, clothing, and equipment. The JRF sent 23 personnel to support the exercise.One of the reservists participating in the exercise was U.S. Navy Cmdr. Ronald Ridgeway, DLA JRF deployment support team commanding officer, mentioned that the JRF filled in key positions throughout Korea and were able to promote and demonstrate DLA’s capabilities in a joint and bilateral environment.“Logistics in a contested environment will always be challenging,” said Ridgeway. “So an exercise like Ulchi Freedom Shield is an excellent opportunity for staging scenarios to evaluate our readiness to support joint operations in the complex U.S. INDO-PACIFIC Command arena. My readiness has exponentially increased by participating in this exercise.”**Integrated Advance:** This is a biennial U.S. Southern Command hosted, interagency exercise that focuses on supporting the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State in the event of a humanitarian crisis in the Caribbean. It also provides an opportunity for SOUTHCOM and its military components to enhance relationships and work closely with federal, state and local components.**Global Thunder:** GT trains U.S. forces to deter and respond to a strategic attack against the U.S. and its allies by a nuclear-armed adversary. In addition to U.S. personnel, this year’s exercise involved key allied national personnel and partners, who integrated into senior leadership teams for policy support and operational insight.**Austere Challenge:**The exercise trains U.S. forces and partners to compete and deter attacks in the European theater, a key area of security for the U.S. and its allies. U.S. Army Europe-Africa, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Africa participated alongside an additional 11 NATO nations in the week-long, command post exercise.**Northern Edge:** A biennial joint field training exercise that involves INDOPACOM and its components to enhance interoperability and readiness in air, land, sea, space and cyberspace domains in the Alaska region. Defense Logistics Agency Energy provided fuel solutions for Air Force and Marine Corps units operating at remote Alaskan sites.**DEFENDER:** This exercise is a U.S. Army-led annual event that trains U.S., NATO, and partner militaries to work together and be ready for any mission. DLA’s main role was to move material and open virtual shipping lanes. These were new delivery and shipping points that showed DLA Distribution can expand its capabilities.**Pacific Sentry**: It is one of a series of training exercises focused on joint training integration among U.S. forces. DLA logistics plans officers planned, organized, trained, and executed the DLA INDO-PACIFIC logistics support concepts. During the seven-day exercise scenario, the team integrated DLA supplies, services and expeditionary capabilities at different levels of war/logistics.**Vigilant Shield:** The exercise evaluates and enhances the ability of North American Aerospace Defense and U.S. Northern Command, their supporting service components, and mission partners to defend North America in the event of an attack on the homeland. This year Vigilant Shield focused on total force sustainment, support operations and communications within and between the headquarters and supporting units.**QLLEX:** Quartermaster Liquid Logistics Exercise is hosted by the Army Reserve 475th Quartermaster Group and involves all aspects of petroleum and water operations. Army Reserve fuel handlers, transporters, and laboratory specialists used military fuel tankers to move DLA Energy bulk petroleum products from Defense Fuel Support Points to DoD installations across the country.**African Lion:**This is U.S. Africa Command's largest, joint exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia. More than 8,000 participants from 13 nations and NATO focused on enhancing readiness between U.S. and partner nation forces.**Combined Distribution Exercise:** CDEX is a combined and joint event in Korea, executed by forces from the 8th Army, the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy and the ROK Army. The exercise includes drills of loading and unloading high-mobility, multipurpose wheeled vehicles, and other gear from ROK Navy landing ships, operations of fuel resupply, water production, air deliveries, aerial medical evacuation and helicopter support.These exercises show how the Joint Reserve Force provides DLA with a premier joint logistics capability that can support any situation. At only the halfway mark of the year, the JRF plans to continue supporting DLA in strengthening strategic relationships with allies and partners, enhancing regional security and stability, and supporting U.S. national interests in future activities throughout the year.